Book, Tralac, April 2010
There has been renewed interest in regional integration in Africa in the last few years. Political ambitions to progress along the linear path of regional integration from free trade areas (FTA) to customs unions, and even to achieve monetary union, have led to the reiteration of commitments to tight deadlines especially to move from FTAs to establish customs unions, despite the fact that implementation of FTAs has met with many challenges. The Treaties establishing regional economic communities in the East and Southern African region are all very clear on the developmental objectives of regional integration. Yet, it appears that the mere move from an FTA to a customs union is viewed, at least by politicians in the region, as significant progress in regional integration.[......]This collection of papers reviews select issues on the regional integration agenda in East and Southern Africa. We start with the bigger picture, reviewing the African Paradigm of Regional Integration, as well as the broader AU integration agenda. We also reflect on the impact of the global economic crisis on Africa. This is followed by a review of progress on regional integration in SADC. We then consider country specific issues; including the trade policy choices of several countries, the role of new generation trade issues such as services on the regional integration agenda, and assess the status of protectionism, trade remedies
and safeguards in regional trade agreements, both intra- and extra-regional to which countries in this region belong. Finally we present a review of the developments in the SADC EPA negotiations, specifically focusing on concerns raised within the SADC group.
Author(s): Taku Fundira, Colin McCarthy, Eva Bursvik, Willemien Denner, JB Cronje